An original turn of the 19th century museum quality American Circus figure head last originating from an old Victorian House in Bridgeport, CT, home of P. Barnum of the world famous Barnum & Bailey Circus, measuring approximately 38 inches in circumference and 12 5/8 inches tall with an approximate weight of 20.2 pounds. Thanks for looking at this amazing piece of American Circus history. Barnum (July 5, 1810 April 7, 1891) was an American showman and businessman remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Barnum is widely, but erroneously, credited with coining the phrase “There’s a sucker born every minute”. Born in Bethel, Connecticut, Barnum became a small-business owner in his early twenties, and founded a weekly newspaper, before moving to New York City in 1834. He embarked on an entertainment career, first with a variety troupe called “Barnum’s Grand Scientific and Musical Theater”, and soon after by purchasing Scudder’s American Museum, which he renamed after himself. Barnum used the museum as a platform to promote hoaxes and human curiosities such as the Feejee mermaid and General Tom Thumb. After economic reversals due to bad investments in the 1850s, and years of litigation and public humiliation, he used a lecture tour, mostly as a temperance speaker, to emerge from debt. His museum added America’s first aquarium and expanded the wax-figure department. Barnum served two terms in the Connecticut legislature in 1865 as a Republican for Fairfield. With the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution over slavery and African-American suffrage, Barnum spoke before the legislature and said, A human soul, that God has created and Christ died for, is not to be trifled with. It may tenant the body of a Chinaman, a Turk, an Arab or a Hottentot it is still an immortal spirit. Elected in 1875 as Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, he worked to improve the water supply, bring gas lighting to streets, and enforce liquor and prostitution laws. Barnum was instrumental in starting Bridgeport Hospital, founded in 1878, and was its first president. The circus business was the source of much of his enduring fame. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome”, a traveling circus, menagerie and museum of “freaks, which adopted many names over the years. Barnum died in his sleep at home in 1891, and was buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport, which he designed himself. The item “ANTIQUE EARLY CLOWN PAINT AMERICAN FOLK ART BRIDGEPORT CT CIRCUS BARNUM BAILEY” is in sale since Saturday, May 14, 2016. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Historical Memorabilia\Fairs, Parks & Architecture\Circus & Carnival\Circus Art”. The seller is “theprimitivefold” and is located in Oak Lawn, Illinois. This item can be shipped worldwide.